Baden (4)

Reichardt spoke quickly.

The Emperor listened while jotting notes with a quill.

As he wrote, irritation often flickered across his tense lips and vanished.

“How is the Count of Echeveria?”

The Emperor’s pale sky-blue eyes flicked toward the face seated before him.

“She’s not a count yet.”

Platinum-blonde hair that shone as if it might shatter in sunlight.

Pale sky-blue eyes.

A perfectly symmetrical jaw and a straight, centered nose.

Slightly downturned eyes that gave a gentle impression.

The palace servants closest to the Emperor would proudly say that he looked like a reincarnated angel when asked about his appearance.

It had always been that way since childhood.

Not just the Emperor—his brothers too were praised for their angelic looks.

“When she turns twenty, hold an official marriage ceremony. Draft a marriage oath.”

The Emperor, despite his angelic appearance, was a cold-hearted monarch.

“That matter is already settled.”

“Grand Duke.”

“Your Majesty, the Imperial Family must honor its word. Are you going to go back on your promise?”

The Emperor tossed the paper he was holding aside.

Reichardt’s gaze briefly lingered on the tiny handwriting.

“If the marriage is annulled after she receives the title, not even I can stop the backlash.”

The Emperor then threw the quill in his other hand aside as well.

“I understand.”

“You understand, yet you still won’t listen to your brother? She may not yet be the Count of Echeveria, but the Marquess of Rain is a man whose true intentions are impossible to read. Didn’t I warn you several times before?”

The Emperor and Reichardt had gone back and forth on this for three days.

“Your Majesty, I respectfully told you over and over—giving Echeveria to Lady Alicia is no loss.”

“You’ve fallen for her and won’t listen to your brother?!”

Reichardt’s words weren’t hollow.

Alicia had already more than proven her worth.

“I’m not infatuated.”

“Oh? Then why did you give her the entire ruby set of Marguerite? If that’s not being infatuated, what is? You have nothing to be ashamed of! You’re only slightly older than her—no reason to grovel like this.”

“I’m not groveling.”

“Yes, you are. Reichardt, just listen to me this once. If you give her your heart and get stabbed in the back later, there’s nothing I can do.”

“There’s no need to do anything for me. Just approve the military reinforcement I requested. Also, recall the spies you’ve placed around me. And stop planting storytellers in the capital.”

With each sentence Reichardt spoke, the Emperor’s beautiful eyes twitched.

But his elegant and resolute expression remained unshaken.

“I’m doing all of this for you. Marry her when she turns twenty. I’d never say anything to harm you, would I?”

Reichardt didn’t respond.

He simply gazed at the Emperor’s face.

Then, looking intently at the man with the face of a reincarnated angel, he finally spoke.

“Please double the number of troops listed in the request, Brother.”

“If that is your wish, so be it.”

The Emperor let out a clearing cough and reached again for his quill and paper.

“I take my leave.”

Reichardt rose discourteously and exited the room, leaving the Emperor behind with his notes.

Only after the door shut did the Emperor’s hand stop writing.

“If you end up betrayed and crying later, don’t expect help. …You’re not really going to abandon Tessen and attack the Rain family, are you? Don’t wipe out one of the great northern noble houses, Reichardt. …Not that you’d listen anyway. Why don’t you ever listen…! War is not the answer. War is expensive, Reichardt. Maybe I should delay payment for the last gold shipment. Damn that brat’s attitude.”

The scratching of the quill continued endlessly.

Henrik, the steward of the Grand Duke’s residence, welcomed his master with a beaming smile.

“Welcome back.”

The Grand Duke, just returned from seeing the Emperor, wore his usual stern expression.

Those who didn’t know him would be cowed by his cold demeanor, but not Henrik.

Many absurd rumors spread by those jealous of the Grand Duke circulated, but all were baseless.

To Henrik, his master was the Emperor’s most cherished brother.

Though the Grand Duke’s looks differed slightly from his siblings’, they were nothing like what slanderers claimed.

“Who contacted us?”

Henrik led Reichardt to the dressing room, still smiling contentedly.

“Countess Rocaz contacted us. The Lady has chosen a reddish-purple gown for the conferment ceremony. She also decided not to put her hair up, opting instead to tie it back. Since she’s not yet married, I believe she chose something simple and neat.”

Reichardt didn’t comment, even seeing Henrik smile overly wide.

“I’ll wear the uniform of the Order of the Golden Knights for the countship conferment.”

“An excellent choice. The Rosa and Navycoat units might be a bit disappointed, but the match is more important. I’m happy I’ll be able to serve the lady here in Tessen.”

Reichardt turned his expression away from Henrik’s overflowing grin.

“She’s only nineteen.”

The word “lady” used by Henrik made him wince.

“She’ll turn twenty soon, Your Highness. Time flies. Summer will be here in no time. She’ll be twenty by then.”

“And then we’ll still have to wait another year.”

“But why wait another whole year to marry? Didn’t His Majesty himself say to marry the Countess of Echeveria when she turns twenty?”

Henrik pressed on stubbornly.

“Did you plant spies on me too?”

“Your Highness.”

“If not, then is there a spy in the Imperial Palace?”

Reichardt changed from his outing attire into light indoor clothes and headed to the study.

“I would never, Your Highness.”

Henrik, who was not tall, easily kept pace with the much taller Reichardt.

“If it’s not either of those, then are you yourself the Emperor’s spy?”

“Your constant vigilance is truly commendable.”

Opening the study door, Henrik gave a friendly smile.

“She’s only two years younger than Josephina.”

Josephina, the Emperor’s eldest niece, was also Reichardt’s eldest niece.

A niece—the daughter of his older sister.

To be engaged to someone just two years older than his niece made him visibly uncomfortable.

“Your Highness is only ten years older than Princess Josephina, and you’re her uncle. There’s a large age gap between Your Highness and Princess Louise, and Her Highness married early. You don’t need to worry about being close in age to the young lady.”

“Leave.”

Reichardt made his way to the long sofa.

Next to the mint-colored sofa was a matching footstool.

Both had been prepared by Henrik for his master’s comfort.

“Jamie has sent a message.”

Reichardt, sinking into the soft cushions and resting his feet on the stool, looked displeased as he glanced at Henrik.

“Speak.”

Henrik didn’t scold the Grand Duke for his ungracious demeanor.

“The alchemist clans have requested negotiations over the border tolls. They wish to discuss it with the Grand Duke’s estate through members stationed in the capital.”

While giving his report, Henrik poured tea into a cup.

He didn’t forget to offer shortbread that paired well with the tea.

“Have them submit a proposed date.”

Reichardt’s face looked more at ease as he accepted the teacup.

“Yes. Also, Your Highness, responses have arrived regarding your inquiries. The Imperial Observatory, local observatories, and the Clocktower Master all report that this winter is expected to be similar to the last. Snowfall will likely begin in December. The astronomical clans have not yet responded.”

Reichardt’s expression subtly darkened at the report.

“Withdraw the down payment from the astronomical clans and cancel the request.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Arrange a meeting with the clockmaker.”

“Yes. Oh, also—Countess Rocaz inquired whether it would be appropriate to hold a rehearsal for the conferment ceremony. Should I schedule it?”

Henrik asked with a bright smile.

“You may go now.”

Reichardt, having just stuffed a shortbread into his mouth, avoided the question while raising his teacup.

His slightly furrowed brows betrayed his discomfort.

“Understood. I take my leave.”

Henrik gave a respectful bow and exited the study.

He was a man who knew when to withdraw.

To Alicia, the Marquess’s chamber was once a place filled with fear.

Especially in the Marquess’s residence in the capital.

In the past, it was there that the Marquess first proposed her engagement, and later ordered her to find a new fiancé after her first one became disabled.

The most shocking moment was when, just as she thought the situation was finally resolved, the Marquess commanded her to marry the Grand Duke of Tessen.

But the most terrifying memory was the moment she had to meet the Marquess alone regarding that first engagement.

Now, standing once again before that fear-filled space from her past, Alicia was calm.

The empty corridor without even a single servant felt desolate.

Knock knock knock.

The Marquess always cleared the area thoroughly for private meetings.

As a child, being alone in an empty space with her father had been unbearably frightening.

Now, it just felt odd.

“Come in.”

The response to her knock was neither too fast nor too slow.

Alicia waited for the proper interval before opening the door.

“You summoned me?”

The Marquess’s office was just as luxurious as she remembered.

A vast room with enormous windows.

Beautiful curtains woven by master craftsmen.

A heavy desk, a tea table, and chairs made to match in style.

The Marquess, seated behind the desk, rose and smiled warmly.

“The Count of Echeveria has arrived!”

It was a bright smile entirely unlike his usual emotionless expression.

Alicia made no effort to return the smile.

The Marquess would now rise and invite her to the tea table by the window.

As expected, he gestured toward the table.

“Not yet.”

Alicia followed his gesture with a slight sense of unease.

Her engagement to the Grand Duke of Tessen was proceeding smoothly.

Although the unexpected inclusion of Echeveria had created some tension within the family, it wasn’t enough to cause problems.

The imperial family’s attitude toward the Marquess of Rain had been surprisingly favorable.

There was no apparent issue, so why had the Marquess summoned her for a private meeting?

It wasn’t a domineering atmosphere like in the past, but something still felt off.

“You’re so humble. Let’s have tea, shall we? I, your father, haven’t even properly served you a cup of tea all this time. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well.”

In all of Alicia’s memories, there wasn’t a single pleasant moment of drinking tea with her father.

She had a bad feeling that today would be the same.

“The journey to the capital wasn’t too tiring, I hope? I’ve been rather busy lately, speaking with the Imperial Family. I heard the Grand Duke stopped by the annex.”

“Yes.”

When it came to internal matters, there was little the Marquess didn’t know.

He was not someone who tried to hide what he knew.